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ITV Racing Tips on January 1st - New Year's Day selections at Cheltenham and Musselburgh

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Tue 30 Dec 2025 15:55

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Jon Vine 30 Dec 2025

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Free tips for the ITV races on Thursday 1st January 2026
Cheltenham and Musselburgh feature on the New Year's Day ITV schedule
Riskintheground, The Kalooki Kid and Ma Shantou feature in our ITV selections

Expired

Cheltenham racecourse. (Getty)

New Year's Day Tips

ITV Racing Schedule
1:25pm Cheltenham - Betfair Handicap Chase Tips
1:40pm Musselburgh - Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle Tips
2:00pm Cheltenham - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase Tips
2:15pm Musselburgh - Auld Reekie Handicap Chase Tips
2:30pm Cheltenham - Relkeel Hurdle Tips
3:10pm Cheltenham - Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle Tips

The ITV Racing team will pitch up at Cheltenham for the first broadcast of 2026. Four races will be shown live from National Hunt racing HQ on Relkeel Hurdle day, as well as two strong handicaps from Musselburgh's Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle card.

Here are my best betting tips for Thursday's ITV races.

ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
1:25pm	Cheltenham	Betfair Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m1½f
1:40pm	Musselburgh	Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) 2m4f
2:00pm	Cheltenham	Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m4½f
2:15pm	Musselburgh	Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (Class 2) 2m4½f
2:35pm	Cheltenham	Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m4½f
2:50pm	Windsor	New Year's Day Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m4f
3:10pm	Cheltenham	Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 3m

ITV Racing Tips - Thursday 1st January

1:25pm Cheltenham - Betfair Handicap Chase Tips

I'm a big fan of KATATE DORI (4/1), and fancy Sam Thomas' star to go well in our opener on New Year's Day.

Katate Dori looked hugely progressive last year, winning three of his first four starts over fences, including a 15-length triumph in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton. Dylan Johnston's mount was one of many caught out be the standing start in the Ultima here at the Festival, and finished last of the seven on his reappearance over hurdles at Aintree.

Again, Katate Dori was slowly away in the Coral Gold Cup, but kept on well to his credit to record a top six finish in that high-profile handicap chase. Thomas' eight-year-old will carry a lovely weight of 11-2 in this lower-grade contest, and this test of stamina on the New Course should certainly suit.

1:40pm Musselburgh - Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle Tips

SMOKERINGINTHEDARK (11/2) has been largely disappointing since an impressive maiden hurdle win over this course-and-distance last December.

Nicky Richards' six-year-old held off a classy rival in Jet To Vegas, and was fancied for the Scottish Stayers' Hurdle after that. Sadly, Danny McMenamin's mount was beaten 21 lengths by Intense Approach that day, and thrashed again as the 4/9 favourite in another novice hurdle at Carlisle.

Smokeringinthedark ran well on his handicap debut at Hexham in May, finishing second behind a classy rival in Moon Chime. McMenamin's mount struggled when backed into favouritism on his reappearance at Wetherby, but that was the softest ground he's ever raced on and Richard's gelding clearly didn't relish conditions. Thursday's ground should be much more suitable.

2:00pm Cheltenham - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase Tips

A trappy contest, but I do think RISKINTHEGROUND (8/1) offers a good bit of value.

Dan Skelton thought his charge would run well in the Coral Gold Cup, but had reservations over that extended trip. Kielan Woods' mount did indeed go well, and had the leaders in his sights turning for home, only for the tank to empty late on as stablemate Panic Attack ran out an impressive winner.

Skelton's nine-year-old claimed a course-and-distance victory in the Silver Trophy here during the April meeting, winning nicely off a mark of 137. Riskintheground was upped to a rating of 145 after beating Blueking d'Oroux in a Graduation Chase at Newton Abbot, but he's weighted to go well with 11-3 on his back and ground conditions at Cheltenham should be ideal.

ma shantou — Harry Cobden riding Ma Shantou (R, red/blue) clear the last to win The Fitzdares Welcomes Jumping Back At Royal Windsor EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle. (Getty)

2:15pm Musselburgh - Auld Reekie Handicap Chase Tips

The Auld Reekie has been a bad race for the bookmakers down the year, and they'll be hoping to see THE KALOOKI KID (9/4) beaten on New Year's Day.

Nicky Richards' star took to chasing straight away last term, and ran out a super impressive winner of the Scottish Champion Chase over this course-and-distance last February. The Kalooki Kid then took his chance in the Grade One Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree, but struggled in top-level company, and was last seen finishing last of four in the Colin Parker at Carlisle.

Danny McMenamin's mount still ran well in a top-quality renewal of the Colin Parker, crossing the line just four lengths adrift of Resplendent Grey, Handstands and Hollygrove Cha Cha - who has won a Listed race since. The form of his Scottish Champion Chase win has worked out very well too, and it's hard to look beyond The Kalooki Kid as he drops back down in grade.

2:30pm Cheltenham - Relkeel Hurdle Tips

Read our full guide to the 2026 Relkeel Hurdle to find out who we've backed in Thursday's feature at Cheltenham.

Visit our Relkeel Hurdle Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of Thursday's races via a mobile or tablet.

3:10pm Cheltenham - Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle Tips

Returning to Cheltenham should suit MA SHANTOU (10/3), and there should be enough pace on here for Harry Cobden's mount to be at his most effective.

Emma Lavelle's charge earmarked himself as a potential Stayers' Hurdle dark horse with a runaway victory here during the October Meeting. Ma Shantou was then backed into favouritism for the Grade Three handicap hurdle on Betfair Chase day at Haydock, but Ben Jones' mount was never travelling well and only managed to beat four horses home.

Ma Shantou found himself buried in the middle of a huge pack that day, and found no room to manoeuvre. I'm happy to put a line through that performance and, with Pike Road and Love Of Neymore likely to go forward, the race should be run to Ma Shantou's liking.

Verdict

ITV Racing at Cheltenham and Musselburgh

Thursday's Top ITV Racing Tips:

The Kalooki Kid

2:15pm Musselburgh

@9/4 - 5 Units

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Ma Shantou

3:10pm Cheltenham

@10/3 - 5 Units

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Bet at bet365

Smokeringinthedark

1:40pm Musselburgh

@11/2 - 5 Units

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with promo code NEWBONUS

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Katate Dori

1:25pm Cheltenham

@4/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

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